At the siberian village 1931

David Burliuk made this painting, "At the Siberian Village," with what looks like oil on canvas, and the way he's put it all down is so forthright and kind of chunky. It's like he's not trying to hide anything, just going straight for the jugular with these bold shapes and colors. I'm really drawn to the way he’s handled the water, it almost feels like it’s been sculpted. Look at the way the paint sits on the surface, all thick and gloopy in some parts, like it's been applied with a palette knife or maybe even just a big, fat brush. There is a real sense of material presence. The whole piece has this earthy quality that makes you want to reach out and touch it, even though you definitely shouldn't. Burliuk has such a specific vision – you can almost see echoes of someone like Marsden Hartley in the directness of his approach. Ultimately though it’s the raw energy and unapologetic mark-making that really sings to me. It's not about perfection, it's about feeling and expression.